2024 ASEAN Futsal Championship: Thailand and Vietnam Futsal teams reach the semifinals early.
By defeating the Malaysia Futsal team in the decisive match, the Thailand Futsal team helped settle the standings in Group A early, securing their spot in the semifinals of the 2024 ASEAN Futsal Championship alongside the Vietnam Futsal team, with one round still to go.
07/11/2024 10:44:40
With a perfect record of 3 wins, Thailand’s Futsal team knew that if they defeated Malaysia in the subsequent match, both they and the host team Vietnam would secure the two semifinal spots from Group A. With superior quality, Thailand dominated the match. Malaysia, who needed a win to keep their hopes alive, struggled to withstand the host team’s attacking play.
Despite Malaysia’s resilience, it took Thailand 10 minutes to break the deadlock. From a teammate’s pass, Munplhai fired a direct shot that slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Syawal and into the net. Just before halftime, Keodbangrachan finished close-range to double Thailand’s advantage.
In the second half, Thailand continued to control the game. However, under the guidance of coach Miguel Rodrigo, Thailand’s players were unable to convert several clear chances to extend their lead. Meanwhile, Malaysia, playing with urgency, managed to pull one back in the 30th minute, when captain Haniffa scored with a header, making it 1-2.
The goal sparked a more open game, with both teams exchanging chances in an exciting back-and-forth. In the 34th minute, Charoenphong scored a brilliant low shot from a corner, giving Thailand a 3-1 lead. With nothing to lose, Malaysia went for broke using a power-play tactic, leaving their goal open. However, despite several opportunities, Thailand failed to capitalize on the empty net.
Nevertheless, the 3-1 scoreline was enough for Thailand to secure all three points in the crucial match. After three games, both Vietnam and Thailand had earned 9 perfect points, sharing the top two spots, 6 points clear of third-place Malaysia, with only one round remaining in the group stage. This safe margin ensured that both the Vietnam and Thailand Futsal teams had already secured their spots in the semifinals. The final group match between the two teams would determine who would finish first in the group.
